Cairns volunteers for Dr Jonathan Strauss, the lead Socialist Alliance Senate candidate, spoke out today against the illegal destruction of their roadside campaign corflutes. This is before Dr Strauss, who lived in Cairns for 18 years until the end of 2024, returned to the Far North for campaign activities from this weekend.
“We’re determined to get the word out about Jonathan’s campaign. He has made the genocidal assault on Gaza his top issue. We’re also proposing emergency action for public housing and the climate,” Dr Strauss said.
“We use our roadside corflutes to spread the word. A lot of people told us how glad they were to see these up once the election was called, the moment the Council by-laws allowed this.
“Now, within a week, an unknown person or persons defaced, destroyed or removed almost all our corflutes.
“We won’t be silenced.
“In parliament Socialist Alliance will continue to consistently oppose Israel’s attempt to ethnically cleanse Gaza. But the Australian government took two weeks to call out the Israeli military’s ambush and execution style war-crime killings of 15 humanitarian workers in Gaza on March 23.
“The destruction of our campaign corflutes is against free speech and undemocratic. To get the word out, corflutes are what campaigns that aren’t major-party, or financed by billionaires, can afford.
“But even corflutes aren’t cheap, so this is also criminal damage and theft. My campaigners have reported this to the police.
“Socialist Alliance wants people to join the campaign to help have our voices heard. You can get in contact with our Far North Queensland branch to find out how to take part.”
Dr Strauss will:
Speak at the Free Palestine FNQ vigil at the corner of Esplanade and Shields St at 6pm, Friday, April 11.
Take part in a Socialist Alliance stall at Rusty’s Markets from 9am, Saturday, April 12.
Speak at Socialist Alliance’s “Solutions to the Housing Crisis” workshop (guest speaker: Kristin O’Connell, The Anti-Poverty Centre) from 12.45pm, Saturday, April 12, ARC Community Hall, 52 Macnamara St, Manunda.
Speak at the Socialist Alliance Tablelands Election Launch, 9.30am for 10am, Sunday, April 13, 3 Glenwood Close, Atherton.
